Me: Wait a minute. Hold the cameras. Did I just think of updating?
Chloe: (raises hand) Maybe I can help you remember?
Me: Uuuh, no thanks. I'm cool. So here we go after an extreme long hiatus due to SATs, AP Exams, and whatnot.
Chapter 8-Heart of Hearts"I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that you're afraid... afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you. A world without rules or controls, borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you,"—Neo, The Matrix
"To deny our own impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human,"—Mouse, The Matrix
Kari Kamiya pressed her hands against the glass capsule and peered out. She could see thousands of Scubamon standing outside, watching her with their large red eyes. Beside her, Gatomon squirmed uncomfortably.
Dragomon loomed over the glass capsule, his own livid red eyes passing over the Scubamon and Kari. She turned away to avoid staring into his revolting face. "Now, now," he chuckled softly. "There's no need to be afraid Kari. You'll be kept from harm—for now."
"What do you want with me?" Kari spat at him.
The Digimon's eyes blinked and he laughed again. "I'm sorry but you misunderstand. I don't want you. You are the exact opposite of this ocean, the enemy of darkness. Without light, darkness will be able to cover all."
Gatomon's ears twitched. "So…what you're saying is…"
"The Child of Light is the only key to standing in the way of the darkness. Yet despite this…I'm not going to kill you Kari…yet."
He turned his back to her. Kari glared at him. "There's still T.K.!" she shouted. 'T.K. will stop you!"
"Oh that hopeful child cannot do anything to me. not as long as I have something he considers precious." Dragomon chuckled. "And the same goes for your brother."
Kari shuddered. "You silly girl, I'm not talking about you alone. I'm talking about her." He flicked one tentacle to his right. Chloe stood there, her arms stiffly at her sides. "She means just as much to them as you do. And they won't be able to do anything as long as she is under my control." He reached out and stroked her dark hair with the tentacle.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Kari yelled fiercely.
Dragomon slowly withdrew the tentacle but his red eyes were still sparkling with humor. "I'll leave you alone for now but be forewarned Child of Light. By the next hour, you will be dead." With that last comment, he departed from the room. The thousands of Scubamon followed closely.
Kari sank to her knees, her hands still pressed against the glass. Directly across from her outside the glass, Chloe stood as stiff as a board. Kari couldn't look at her. I should have listened to her when she tried to warn me. Oh my God, what have I done?
"Do you want that to be answered?"
Kari started and then looked down at her partner. "Did you say that Gatomon?"
"I didn't say anything Kari."
"If you didn't say anything then it must've been…" Kari looked through the glass at Chloe. "You…"
The girl's eyes, swirling with darkness, narrowed. "Me…did you ask me that question? Was it meant to be answered?"
"Um…well…"
"Because I cannot give you an answer. I have no idea what you think you've done nor any idea what you blame yourself for. And I certainly have no idea who warned you about anything. I only know my master sees you as a threat." The girl's lips curved into a frown. "A threat that I see as a weak little human."
Kari bit her lip as she felt the painful stings of the words yet she forced herself to ignore them. She's not Chloe. She's not Chloe. No matter what she looks like and says, she's not Chloe.
"This Chloe you think of," said Chloe with a thoughtful expression. "Her name seems all too familiar. And your name…Kari…strange that you seem familiar as well."
"You know who I am," Kari insisted, looking desperately into the girl's blank eyes. "Please see me, please hear me."
"I am only required to serve my master," the other girl replied woodenly. "You do make the rules. Your trivial pleas mean nothing to me."
Kari closed her eyes in despair. For one small moment, she believed that Chloe would wake up and help her out of this mess. Now she knew Chloe could not, and would not, save her.
Gatomon patted one paw on her knee. "Don't worry Kari. Like you said before, T.K. will get us out of this."
"I hope so." She looked through the capsule again. Chloe was still there but her hands seemed to be trembling slightly.
She's afraid…just like I am…
* * *
"Veemon!" called Davis across the dead ocean. "Where are you? Veemon!"
"Mmmph. Davis, I'm right here!"
Davis blinked and looked down. He noticed there was a pair of feet sticking out of the sand. "Oh." He took hold of the feet and pulled.
"YEEEEEOOOOOWWW!!"
Veemon popped out of the sand and landed next to his partner. He rubbed his head and smiled. "Th-thanks Davis."
"No prob." Davis looked around the Dark Ocean and flipped his goggles over his eyes. After about a minute, he pushed them up onto his spiky hair again. "Man, even with these on, I can't see anything except water, water everywhere." He looked around them. "I sure hope the others are okay."
"Veemon! Davis!"
The pair turned to see Floramon running towards them. "Hey Floramon, where'd you come from?" Veemon asked.
"Catherine and I landed not too far from here. I think everyone must have gotten separated in the teleportation." She put her flowery hands on her hips. "And speaking of teleportation…what is with that Chloe girl anyway?"
Davis shrugged. "So where's Catherine?"
"I'm over 'ere."
The French girl came out of the dead trees, looking very forlorn. Davis and Veemon stared at her in concern.
"Eh Catherine, are you okay?"
She sighed and shook her head. "I am all right but I do not feel all right…inside zat is." Her long blonde ringlets floated around her face. "I feel vraiment 'orrible (Translation: really horrible) for Chloe and Tai. I somehow feel I am to blame…for zis mishap."
Davis's eyes widened in disbelief. "Aw no no. That can't be right Catherine. You can't blame yourself for Chloe's…uh…unusual anger."
"Oh but it is my fault," she insisted, her china blue eyes glassy. "She only went ballistic after she saw us togezer. I mean…I did not mean to kiss Tai. 'E kissed me first and I tried to let go but 'e would not let me go. I do not know whot came over 'im. 'E 'as nevair acted zat way before." She sighed. "And zen Chloe became so angry…but I nevair knew it would turn to zis."
The goggled boy walked over to Catherine and placed his hand on her shoulder. "It'll be okay. Trust me. I'm sure there's a reason behind all of this. You are not to blame. The only one that'll pay for the damage is Dragomon so buck up." He gave her a reassuring smile. "Trust me Cathy. Everything will work out."
Catherine looked up at the boy and smiled…and then her face gave way to a curious expression. "Pardonne moi (Translation: Pardon me) for asking Davis but why did you just call me 'Cathy' just now?"
Davis blinked, his face flaring up instantly. "Uh…um…no reason. I mean, sometimes I give my friends a nickname. Y'know T.K.'s is…whatever I call him and Chloe's is 'Clo' so I thought…why not give you one."
She grinned. "So I guess you are saying we are friends correct?"
"Uh…yeah."
Catherine nodded, still smiling. "All right." She tilted her head to one side. "You know Davis…you really are kind of cute."
He blushed. "Uuuh…you think so?"
She nodded and walked over to her partner. "We better get a move on Floramon. Ze uzzers must be out zere somewhere." She turned around and looked back at Davis, her blue eyes shining. "And Davis?"
"Yeah?" He was still blushing. Veemon snickered.
"Merci beaucoup." (Translation: Thank you very much.)
It took about three minutes for Davis to understand what she said…and then he smiled back and said in response. "Tu es bienvenu." (Translation: You're welcome) I guess I'm picking something up from Ken after all.
* * *
I have to save her. It's the only chance I've got. But what about Chloe? What do I do about her? How can I save Kari and Chloe all at once?
"Hello? Tai? Earth to Tai."
"Huh?" Tai looked up. Sora was waving a hand in front of his face. "Oh hey Sora. Sorry I zoned out."
"I could tell." She let her hand fall to her side. "Look, I know you're worried about Kari and Chloe but we have to focus."
Tai rolled his eyes. "This whole thing was my fault in some way. I just know…it wasn't me that said those things to Chloe those weeks ago. It was like…" Tai's eyes widened. "Dragomon was using me. He knew Chloe's powers play on her emotions so he used me to hurt her so she could be easily manipulated to get to Kari." He closed his eyes and balled one hand into a fist. "How could I have been so stupid?"
"It wasn't your fault Tai," Agumon pointed out. "Usually when a person is possessed, they don't know what's going on around them."
The brown-haired boy nodded. "Yeah but I could have told Chloe that. Not that she'd listen to me anyway." He stared at the ground. "But if Dragomon could lift the possession over me, than with a little persuasion, I think he could lift the hold he has on Chloe as well."
Sora's mouth dropped. "I think you're right Tai."
"I know I'm right." He looked toward the gray sky. "We have to find Kari…before time is up."
* * *
I really didn't wanna be back here. I really REALLY did not wanna be back here.
"Uh Ken? Are you okay?"
Ken looked up at T.K. The blond boy had only just returned after scanning the area they had been transported to. "Yeah I'm fine."
T.K. shook his head. "No you're not…but don't worry. We'll get out of here soon. I promise."
Although T.K. was known for his promises, Ken couldn't help thinking that a promise to leave the Dark Ocean was very doubting. They had no idea where they were and he had never been able to open up a portal out of the Dark Ocean without Kari's light. And speaking of which, they still had to rescue Kari from Dragomon's clutches and get Chloe back to her normal self.
"Ken," said T.K. seriously. He knelt down on knee and reached out to pat the other boy's shoulder. "I know you hate this place a lot more than I do, and frankly I'd give anything for you not to be here but what's done is done. I need you to be brave for us okay?"
Ken nodded once and gave T.K. a sort of half-smile. "You know, the way you sounded right now made me think that you're the older kid and I'm the younger and more helpless one."
T.K. grinned and stood up. "Well...not really. You know more about this place than I do so why don't we start by trying to find the others?"
Ken stood up as well. "Okay."
"Sheesh, about time you guys got a move on!" Patamon flew down from one of the dead gray trees he'd been sitting in. "I'll lead the way!"
* * *
"Wake up Child of Light," the Scubamon hissed.
Kari's eyes slowly fluttered open. As soon as her eyes made contact with her glass prison, she groaned. "I was hoping this was just a dream."
"'Fraid not Kari," Gatomon replied. "It's as real as real gets." Her exotic blue eyes glanced through the capsule. Outside were about 25 Scubamon…and Chloe of course. She flexed her claws at the Scubamon. "I am warning you, if any of you hurts Kari then that person will become my own personal scratching post."
The Scubamon ignored her and reached out for the glass capsule. Kari shrank into the middle of the capsule with Gatomon. They were completely surrounded.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked them. "I helped you guys out last time so why do you want to kill me?"
"We must obey our master child," they chanted. "We must remain loyal." Their webbed hands pressed against the capsule…and passed through.
Oh what am I gonna do? Kari thought. She grasped her head in her hands and screwed her eyes shut. The darkness…oh the darkness…it's going to win. I'm not going to be able to resist much longer.
"Kari, I don't know what you're thinking, but by the looks of your face, I won't like it," said Gatomon briskly. She went to work, using her Lightning Claw on the Scubamon's disgusting hands. "You have to fight it Kari. You're the enemy of the darkness and I know you're scared, but as long as I'm here, you're not alone."
The young brunette winced and nodded. I'm not alone…because I have Gatomon and… Her eyes opened and rested on the older girl standing outside the glass capsule. The Scubamon reached and grabbed Kari's arms. "Chloe!" she called out. "Please Chloe, listen to me! You have to fight Dragomon's control!"
"Control? What control?" the other girl asked listlessly. "You're making no sense today little girl."
"Dragomon is using you against me and the others!" Kari called out desperately. The Scubamon tugged at her arms again. "He wants to use you to destroy us all! Please listen!"
Chloe closed her eyes and played with her long dark hair. "Are you worth listening to?"
Kari heard Gatomon give a soft cry and she could see her partner was now in the captive arms of the Scubamon. She would be next. "Chloe…when Tai was talking to you that time…I don't think it was him. I think it was Dragomon all along." She tried to get free as more of the Scubamon's webbed hands grabbed onto her arms. "He used you to get to me so he could kill me. But it doesn't have to be that way. You can change this Chloe!"
Chloe's eyes still looked blank and dull. "I'm not supposed to listen to you. You're not my master."
"I am your friend," Kari said. "And I know deep down you still love my brother or you wouldn't be like this. And I know…" she paused and took a deep breath. "And I know you love T.K. too otherwise it wouldn't have hurt you when you hurt him." She strained against the Scubamon. "We need you. Tai needs you. I need you. T.K. needs you!"
The Scubamon wrenched her through the capsule and out into the open. Gatomon struggled, but in vain. "Time to go Child of Light."
"No!" Kari continued to struggle against them. "I know you're in turmoil over the two of them Chloe. But they love you. They both love you."
"Striking Fish!" One Scubamon shot a spear only a few inches away from Kari's head. She gasped. "No more talk for you Kari. Our master wants you now." Together, he and the other Scubamon proceeded to drag Kari out of the room.
Chloe, however, was in turmoil over what the girl had just said. What is she talking about? She decided to read the girl's mind, to see what it had.
Words could not be enough to describe what she heard in Kari's head, but it was enough to send her stumbling backwards in utter amazement. She felt courage, she felt hope, she felt love, she felt friendship, she felt sincerity, she felt knowledge, she felt reliability, she felt miracles, she felt kindness, she felt faith, she felt a strange surge of light. And most of all…
She felt the healing silver tear of life.
I am…the Child of Life…
She saw flashing images souring through her brain and forcing her to remember. She saw a boy with messy dark hair and a red-and-white hat smiling at her and laughing. Next to him were a yellow and black mouse, a girl with orange-red hair, a boy with a heavily tanned face, and another boy with a red bandanna tied around his black hair. On the other side was a boy with spiky brown hair and a confident smile. Over their heads flew a giant peach-orange dragon with small wings and gentle black eyes.
Ash…Pikachu…Misty…Brock…Tracey…Gary…Dragonite…
The image dissolved, replaced by an orange-haired girl waving and a boy with shining blond hair and cool blue eyes next to her. Behind them was a serious redhead with dark eyes looking at a laptop, and a beautiful girl with long chestnut locks of hair flying around her as she ordered him to put away the laptop. Laughing at the pair was a boy with dark blue hair and glasses and a younger girl with light lavender hair and glasses. Next to the girl, a boy with even darker blue hair and intense blue eyes smiled at the purple-haired girl.
Sora…Matt…Izzy…Mimi…Joe…Yolei…Ken…
The final image showed a brown-haired boy playing soccer, his goggles flashing in the sun. A very small boy with slanted green eyes cheered for him alongside an exquisite girl with long blonde ringlets and china blue eyes. Beside the blonde girl was another boy with blond hair sticking out from his hat and gentle azure blue eyes. The goggled boy passed the soccer ball to a taller boy with wild brown hair and deep brown eyes. He smiled.
Davis…Cody…Catherine…TK…Tai…
And the image dissolved…into the face of the young brunette with mahogany eyes…the girl that had called out to her…the girl that had seemed so familiar.
Kari…her name is…Kari…and my name is…
She could see herself with the Rockets…see herself destroying them…she could see herself becoming a trainer and finding Ash again…she could see herself meeting T.K. and the other Digidestined…she could see herself with Tai…
My name is…Chloe…
She opened her eyes…they were sparkling with the same moonstone glow as before.
And the spell was gone.
"KARI!" she yelled. "HANG ON!"
The Scubamon whirled around in shock as the psychic girl charged up her energy and set them flying. Kari and Gatomon fell to the ground. The Scubamon quickly got to their feet. "STRIKING FISH!"
"You don't scare me!" Chloe's eyes began to glow and the spears stopped in their tracks. Her eyes flashed and the spears turned around, aiming for the Scubamon. The Digimon shrieked. "Who's afraid now?" she taunted as the spears soared right through their chests. Surprisingly, they did not disappear into meaningless data but into wisps of black smoke.
"Kari!" Chloe raced over to the younger girl and helped her to her feet. "Oh Kari, are you all right?"
Kari blinked and stared up at her. "Your eyes…" She bit her lip and flung her arms around Chloe's neck. "I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you before when you warned me not to come here. I thought we'd lost you."
"Ssshh," Chloe whispered soothingly, wrapping her arms around Kari and rocking her back and forth. "It's okay Kari. I'm the one that's sorry. I should never have gotten suckered into this sort of thing. But I'll get you outta here." Her unusual blue eyes drifted to the damp ceiling. "I'm back…and nothing is going to stand in my way."
Me: All right! Chloe is back to normal but how can our young psychic stand a chance against Dragomon without the rest of the team?
Chloe: You really need to ask that?
Me: Uuuuh…yeah.
Chloe: (sigh)
Alexis: Once again, Caro apologizes for her long absence but hopefully those of you who actually like Chloe are glad to see that the psychic trainer is back where she belongs.
T.K.: Hopefully it'll stay that way.
Me: Yeah yeah. Now I gotta study but for those of you who wanted me to update, here you go. See ya!